Next Up From Estes...

[Scott_650]

https://www.estesrockets.com/coming-soon/007253-explorer-aquariustm

Next up in the bring-back pipeline is the Explorer Aquarius!

Saturn V CANNOT be far behind, can it?

 

[Bat-mite]

That looks cool!

 

[GlenP]

Original kit #2016 was D-powered. This bring-back version can use D & E, nice!

 

[Huxter]

Totally Sweet! Thank you Estes!

 

[Nytrunner]

Ah, why do they have to keep releasing these non-3FNCs that make me want to give them money

 

[afadeev]

Saturn V CANNOT be far behind, can it?

Estes had confirmed that SatV will be back in 2019.

Time to eBay the old stock for C-notes before it's too late!


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[afadeev]

Duplicate

 

[afadeev]

Triplicate

 

[Nytrunner]

3-post combo!

 

[afadeev]

3-post combo!

My apologies - that's what you get for using mobile app over airplane WiFi....


... + you can't edit your own posts.

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[Nytrunner]

All good, it brought a smile to my face anyway. You're just really enthusiastic about this rocket!

 

[LostMosquito]

After watching a great short documentary on Youtube on the Saturn V, I was wondering if Estes ever did a model of the Vanguard (1957 - 1959).

 

[Scott_650]

The early Vanguards with the triangular fins would be an interesting model and should fly well. Funny, all those Vanguard rockets that failed - some on national TV - could the collective memory of failure have an effect all these years later so there’s no models?

 

[Nytrunner]

Absolutely

Man is a proud and sentimental creature

 

[kuririn]

Boyce Aerospace used to have a static kit of the Vanguard. IIRC, I think the story was that they wanted to have flying versions of both the Vanguard and Sprint ABM but the designs would have required too much nose weight to fly stable, so they offered it as static display only. Found the old page on the Wayback Machine:

https://web.archive.org/web/20161227201132/https://boyceaerospacehobbies.com/?page_id=379

Also Glencoe and Mach 2 have static plastic kits:
https://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/mac/maclo24.htm
https://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/glm/glm08903.htm

Those fins look way too tiny to be effective for a flying model. A plastic model conversion might be a good challenge.

 

[Scott_650]

Probably need clear plastic “flight fins” for the orbital Vanguards or some version of Dr. Zooch-style “flame fins”.

 

[KenECoyote]

Site shows available now (can add to cart) and retails for $38.99:
https://www.estesrockets.com/new/007253-explorer-aquariustm

 

[neil_w]

Site shows available now (can add to cart) and retails for $38.99:
https://www.estesrockets.com/new/007253-explorer-aquariustm

Nice to see you back in these parts!

 

[neil_w]

Argh, double post.

 

[kuririn]

Dang, kit is out and I still have the parts for a clone in my build pile. Better build the Pro Series Jayhawk before they reissue that one too.

 

[Tobor]

I'm still waiting for the re-issue of the Interceptor-E......

 

[JStarStar]

How about an Interceptor Family including the Int-E, the original Interceptor Classic and an Mini-Interceptor built off a BT-20 and flying on A10s?

 

[neil_w]

Mini-Interceptor would be cool, although it would require new plastic molds which is always an obstacle.

I sort of feel like there should always be at least some form of Interceptor in the product lineup.

 

[JStarStar]

With the advent of 3D printing, my guess is some of these smaller plastic detail parts may become more practical to produce.

 

[neil_w]

At the volumes Estes produces, I tend to doubt it at this point (maybe some time in the future). Maybe for little stuff like the pods, but not for nose cones. Just my own guesses.

That said, an Interceptor-like nose cone could be made with a conical cone and a glue-on cockpit.

 

[JStarStar]

Right, the nose cone cockpit probably could be done easily as a glue-on cardstock part.

I'd guess the corrugated tail cone thingy could be done as a wrap-around part, too.

 

[kuririn]

With the advent of 3D printing, my guess is some of these smaller plastic detail parts may become more practical to produce.

I'm already seeing it in the Rocketarium kits. Built a BBIII recently, the nose cone was 3D printed. The updated Tank Buster 5 replaced the cardstock long transition with a 3D printed one. I'm looking forward to the day when there are no micro ridges to sand off. But if we no longer have to form, sand, fill, do we become less of a craftsman? Something to think about.

 

[JStarStar]

I'm already seeing it in the Rocketarium kits. Built a BBIII recently, the nose cone was 3D printed. The updated Tank Buster 5 replaced the cardstock long transition with a 3D printed one. I'm looking forward to the day when there are no micro ridges to sand off. But if we no longer have to form, sand, fill, do we become less of a craftsman? Something to think about.

Yeah, I mentioned this very topic a few weeks ago in a thread about 3D printing on scale rockets -- it'll change the whole ball game. In fact, it already is.

 

[shreadvector]

https://www.estesrockets.com/about

They updated the "about" web page.

 

[justinwebb]

Saw this on their Facebook today:

The secret is out, but we're over the moon to formally announce the 1/200 scale Saturn V will be available in April 2019! Stay tuned for more updates about the release of this Apollo 11 commemorative kit

 

[JStarStar]

1/200??

 

[shreadvector]

1/200??

Correct.
There will be a 1:100 kit and a 1:200 RTF Saturn-V

The RTF will allow THOUSANDS more consumers to fly and enjoy and celebrate the 50Th anniversary (and get addicted).